US Temporarily Halts MV-22 Warplane Flights in Japan's Okinawa

The United States has temporarily stopped flights of multi-mission, tiltrotor MV-22 Osprey military aircraft in Okinawa after a "mishap" on Tuesday, the US Marine Corps said in a press release.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On Tuesday, an MV-22 Osprey experienced a problem that led to a landing in the shallow waters off the Okinawa coast. Third Marine Expeditionary Force Commanding General Lawrence Nicholson said the aircraft was "unhooking" and "shaking violently."

"[Commanding General] Nicholson has made the decision to temporarily halt all MV-22 flight operations under Marine Forces Japan until he is ‘satisfied that we have reviewed our checklists and safety of flight procedures,’" the release stated on Wednesday.

"The pilot made a decision to not fly over Okinawan homes and families. He made a conscious decision to try to reach Camp Schwab…and land in the shallow water to protect his crew and the people of Okinawa," he added.

All crew members had been transported to the US Naval Hospital in Okinawa and treated for injuries

The US marine corps launched a formal investigation into the incident, according to the release.